Mike Augello: Declining Playoff Teams Reason For Hope

First

2 Teams I see declining, Florida and New Jersey, Florida because of the following reasons

1. There entire division underachieved last year

2. There entire division will not underachieve this year

3, The Caps and Canes made moves to improve this summer

4. The Panthers will be 1 year wonders

New Jersey because of the ? on where the offense will come from beside Kovalchuk and can Brodeur and Hedberg carry the load in net considering there ages.

First
- celata29

Thomas licks scrot!

Thomas licks scrot!
- big_dion

I've always disliked Thomas you know this!!!

But do you seee us going after a goalie? If so what do you think we have for options?

TOR will finish last in NE division. will draft in bottom 3, unless BB screws it up by taking on a ridiculous contract (ie loungo), or trading their 1st rd pick in a lateral move done out of desperation (ie b. ryan).


even though some of the teams mentioned in the blog are 'declining', they are all still better than TOR. most notable improved team is CAR. MTL is be better as well...

TOR will finish last in NE division. will draft in bottom 3, unless BB screws it up by taking on a ridiculous contract (ie loungo), or trading their 1st rd pick in a lateral move done out of desperation (ie b. ryan).


even though some of the teams mentioned in the blog are 'declining', they are all still better than TOR. most notable improved team is CAR. MTL is be better as well...
- coach

Ryan is a lateral move???

IF Burke wants to improve and go for the playoffs, Thomas should be an option, but I dont care either way.

I would be fine going into the season the way we are, unless we can dump the KomiLombConolol monster.

Re-asses after the 15 game mark what team we have and add/dump accordingly.

Mike Augello: Declining Playoff Teams Reason For Hope
- mikeinbuffalo

Cant wait to see the bottom seven and your thoughts.

Preview:

Leafs- decline
Habs - slightly improve
Sabres - stay the same
Jets - Same
T Bay - Slightly improve
NYI - Improve
Hurricanes - Improved

Cant wait to see the bottom seven and your thoughts.

Preview:

Leafs- decline
Habs - slightly improve
Sabres - stay the same
Jets - Same
T Bay - Slightly improve
NYI - Improve
Hurricanes - Improved

- Iggysbff

Well according to BoltsFan the Lightning are going to finish 2nd in the east behind the Rags

Mike Augello: Declining Playoff Teams Reason For Hope
- mikeinbuffalo

The teams that declined didn't decline enough to fall to where the Leafs are. More importantly, the Leafs haven't done enough to rise up high enough. I don't see the reason for hope unless that hope is unrealistic and misplaced.

The teams that declined didn't decline enough to fall to where the Leafs are. More importantly, the Leafs haven't done enough to rise up high enough. I don't see the reason for hope unless that hope is unrealistic and misplaced.
- Two_For_Truth

isn't it always

I've always disliked Thomas you know this!!!

But do you seee us going after a goalie? If so what do you think we have for options?
- celata29

Rimer

IF Burke wants to improve and go for the playoffs, Thomas should be an option, but I dont care either way.

I would be fine going into the season the way we are, unless we can dump the KomiLombConolol monster.

Re-asses after the 15 game mark what team we have and add/dump accordingly.
- senstroll

Tim Thomas? The ultra right wing American conservative play in Toronto, Ontario, Canada? I wouldn't bet on it.

I've always disliked Thomas you know this!!!

But do you seee us going after a goalie? If so what do you think we have for options?
- celata29

hahaah i know messin!

your best option, honestly...Backstrom from Minnesota.

Outside the top 8

Buffalo - Worse
Tampa Bay - Worse
Winnipeg - Worse
Carolina - Way better
Toronto - No movement
NYI - No movement
Montreal - Better

hahaah i know messin!

your best option, honestly...Backstrom from Minnesota.
- big_dion

I completely agree. I also think that is your best option as well. It would take a lot to get him though and this is his contract year no?

isn't it allways
- bobbyisno1

The realistic vs hope debate, here we go again, so predictable around here.

hahaah i know messin!

your best option, honestly...Backstrom from Minnesota.
- big_dion

what happen to Ek. blog about that.

22 comments and it locked.

i wonder what it would take to land Backstrom

isn't it always
- bobbyisno1

You would hope that people learn from their mistakes but I suppose that too is misplaced hope.

Outside the top 8

Buffalo - Worse
Tampa Bay - Worse
Winnipeg - Worse
Carolina - Way better
Toronto - No movement
NYI - No movement
Montreal - Better
- brandon2743

that being said: buff will do better this season. 6-9
tampa bay: still bad D and G - good forwards, will suck this year. 10-13
winnipeg: 8-11 finish
Toronto: bit better, 7-10 finish
islanders will suck - 13-15
montreal will be better for sure, but not much better 7-10 finish

thats my assessment, for what its worth.

what happen to Ek. blog about that.

22 comments and it locked.

i wonder what it would take to land Backstrom
- dmnted

It could just be a rental. This is his last year under contract right?

I know I could look it up, but I'm being lazy

Outside the top 8

Buffalo - Worse
Tampa Bay - Worse
Winnipeg - Worse
Carolina - Way better
Toronto - No movement
NYI - No movement
Montreal - Better
- brandon2743

You sure about that?

I completely agree. I also think that is your best option as well. It would take a lot to get him though and this is his contract year no?
- celata29

Harding is their back up and is there future #1, backstrom has 1 year left.

dunno what it would cost, not as much as you may think though.